January 2005

I spend 3.5 mill on promotional expenses for the Academy.

Challenges of the Heart has completed production and is ready for release. Rated R and testing at 91%, I authorize an edit that hurts the movie and knocks it to 89%. I set the release date for next month, and authorize another edit which should make it ready in time for the release.

The Call of Cthulhu has finished filming. SEALs 2 has begun filming.

The following scripts are back: Dungeon, The Journal, and Crapshoot.

Dunegon is sent back out for an entire dialogue rewrite. It’s currently abysmal. The Journal is as good as I can make it. It’s not great, but it has no major weaknesses. Crapshhot was completely unable to be improved. I send it back out for a polish to see if that helps.

I purchase the script to State of Emergency, an Action Adventure where the President of the US declares war. It’s a three star screenplay for 3.4 mill. I send it out for a rewrite.


-Anxiety

I greenlight The Journal.

We will film in DC on location with elaborate set construction. The physical budget is 51 million, 1.5 mill pyro effects, 1.5 mill stunts, no robotics and 10 mill state of the art effects.

M. Night Shyamalan has agreed to do the sequel. I set him up as the producer and he is mine for 1.35 mill. I send the script to Brad Pitt but he is now demanding 25 mill and 11% of gross. I decide to go for it and cast him as the leading man. The additional costs for Pitt are 2 mill, so for a total of 11% of gross and 25 mill, he is my leading man.

Now I need an actor to star across from Pitt. Every male actor in Hollywood appears to be interested in The Journal. After some searching for a good actor, I decide on Mel Gibson for 13.5 mill and 10% of gross.

For the supporting cast I sign Tea Leoni (1 mill), James Earl Jones (600k), and Helen Hunt (2.2 mill).

A List character actors are used for the entire minor cast. The movie cost – just negatives, is 125.4 mill, and I greenlight the movie. I go ahead and authorize 20 mill TV, 15 mill print and 2.5 mill radio ads.


-Anxiety

I also greenlight The Empty Chair.

We film in Washington DC with elaborate set construction. The physical costs for the project are 51 mill, 2.5 mill pyro, 1 mill stunts, no robotics, and 12 mill groundbreaking effects.

I hire Mimi Leder to be the director. Let’s see how she fares with a more traditionally male movie. For 800k, she’s my director. I need a producer for her – her budget skills could use some work. I hire Guy Scott to be my producer for 400k.

Branden Fraser and Samuel Jackson have both mentioned that they are interested in the project. I am waffling on my lead, so I decide to check the supporting cast.

I sign John Rhys-Davies to be a supporting actor for 1 mill. Kristen Cloke has agreed to be my supporting actress for 500k. The supporting cast was easy to cast. I also hire B List character actors for the four minor roles.

I hire Angelina Jolie to be my leading lady for 5 million and 5% of gross. Now I need that leading man. Most of the top flight male and female talent are average actors at best. The male talent is better, however. I ultimately decide to cast Samuel Jackson for 5.2 mill and 5% of gross.

The negative cost for this project is 90 mill and I authorize it. I budget 20 mill in TV, 12 million print, and 2.5 mill in radio for the project.



-Anxiety

“Review of ‘Beast’

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

I am not exactly a fan of the horror genre. I think the whole genre is stale. And this is a very un-Dragon’s Den Studios project. As such, it reminds me of some many other horror flicks out there.

Maybe Dragon’s Den has run out of ideas for freshness in just one year. Directed by Frank Darabont and starring Christian Slater and Heather Graham, this is not a movie meant to change the genre or make you think.

The screenplay benefits from great pacing, good arc character development, and an amazing understanding of what it takes to make a horror movie tick. Having said that, the plot is predictable, the dialogue average and the intelligence is non-existent. This is not a smart movie.

The basic premise of the movie, like all horror movies, is that something outlandish happens and people start dying. In this movie, an unholy force is unleashed on New York City and it has to be stopped. Go team….

Christian Slater plays a local cop who first discovers the horror and tries to stop the fore. It’s about time someone gave Christian another starting role, but this was not it, as his acting is average at best.

Heather Graham gives a much better performance as Christian’s love interest. Rodney Rowland is averae and Jennifer Love Hewitt is just awful.

Frank Darabont did a good job directing and producing the movie, but overall, this is one horrible film, and wholly forgettable. Pass it by. One and a half stars out of four.”


-Anxiety

Beast, Horror
Christian Slater, Heather Graham
Frank Darabont
Negative Cost: 47.351 mill
Total P&A: 50.75 mill
Total Cost: 98.101 mill
Domestic Gross: 5.069 mill
Foreign Gross: 3.158 mill
Total Net Revenue: -86.14 mill
Overall: ****
Frank, Director: ****
Frank, Producer: ****
Christian Slater: ***
Heather Graham: ****
Rodney Rowland: ***
Jennifer Love Hewitt: *



Oh my God…..


-Anxiety

The Academy has nominated the following Dragon’s Den Studio films for awards:


Best Picture: The Diary and Don’t Be Afraid
Best Director: M. Night Shyamalan (The Diary) and John Hughes (One Last Chance)
Best Actor: Brad Pitt (The Diary) and Matt Damon (Short of Breath)
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman (Tearoom) and Kirsten Dunst (Gone Hollywood)
Best Supporting Actor: James Earl Jones (Don’t Be Afraid)
Best Supporting Actress: Leelee Sobieski (Tearoom)
Best Original Screenplay: William Cast (Don’t Be Afraid) and Barbara Worthington (Short of Breath)



-Anxiety

February 2005


I order 5 million spent on promotional expenses for my nominated films.

Challenges of the Heart has finished editing. Eyes of Rage is ready for release.

SEALs 2 is behind on its budget. I authorize an additional 5 mill. It is now ready for post-production.

In The Night needs an additional 10 mill for sets. I authorize the money. Spielberg is now ready to start filming the movie.

The following scripts have returned: Say You Love Me, The Prisoner, Crapshoot

We are now officially back in the red and cannot purchase anymore projects.

Our edit of Challenges of the Heart has made it a little better than the original but not by much. I decide to not edit the film anymore.

I look at Eyes of Rage. Rated PG13 after major overhauls of the script, it is testing at 89%. I authorize a quick edit. Which barely changes the screening, although a lot more people like the ending now. I slate the film for a March release.

Say You Love Me had its character arc improved. This is still a really bad script. I send it out for more modifications, but to a minor writer, just to see if one can stumble onto the right formula.

The Prisoner, after just one rewrite, is starting to come together as a script. I send it out for a polish and a shine.

Crapshoot looks a little better than previously, so I send it back out for another rewrite – this time of its genre elements.

I send the following scripts out: Deep Cut to Steve LeMaux for a first draft; She Was an Empty Place for a genre polish; Star Gazer for a rewrite; and Indictment for a rewrite of arc and pace.


-Anxiety

I greenlight The Second Face.

We shoot in the Big City Street backlot and will do sound on sound stage 12 with significant set construction. I authorize 31 mill physical costs, 1 mill pyro effects, and 1 mill stunts.

I sign David Lynch as my director for 900k. Oscar Highland, for 400k, is my producer. He appears to be very talented. Both do their best work in mystery films.

I sign Matt Damon quickly for 5 mill and 5% of gross. He’s my leading man. Nicole Kidman quickly agrees to be my leading lady for 11 mill and 10% of gross. Elijah Wood (3 mill) and Kate Winslet (1 mill) are my supporting cast. I hire a cross section of up and comers, A List, B List, and fresh faces for the 15 minor roles.

With a total negative cost of 68 mill, I give a go signal. I authorize 12 mill TV, 6 mill print, and 1 mill radio advertising. That brings domestic P&A and the negative cost to 87 mill total.




-Anxiety

“Review of ‘Challenges of the Heart’

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

In the up and down world of Dragon’s Den Studios, I wonder if the title “Challenges of the Heart” deals with the founder and CEO Abe Sargent? After all, he has had two major busts, and some major scores as well, including last year’s hit “The Diary.” DDS, in just it’s first year, has a nominee in every category for the Oscars except for Adapted Screenplay. So, maybe this is just the normal growing pains of a new studio. Find out what works and what doesn’t.

And so I sit comfortably down in a chair to watch the tear jerking drama “Challenges of the Heart,” with much anticipation. What am I going to get? I could have a great movie on my hands. Or I could have something, well, less stellar.

What I do know, while waiting for the opening credits to finish, is that this is a Marten Scorsese film, so that may bring some credentials to the film. In this movie, a woman, played by Susan Sarandon, must face the fears of her childhood to save her own child’s life.

Her child is played by Joseph Gordon Levitt, of “Third Rock From the Sun” fame. Brendan Fraser stars as the cruel father of Susan as a child in countless flashback scenes. And Julia Stiles plays the part of a younger Sarandon. There are a variety of new roles for people here, especially for Fraser.

The script is a good one, with fantastic arc, an amazing plot, good pacing and a excellent command of tears through the genre elements. The dialogue and character development do not get in the way, but this is a very emotional film, not an intellectual one at all.

So, does it work? Is this a good film, or one of those pieces of trash that many studios put out, and, we have come to find, Dragon’s Den Studios is not immune to? Well, there are a lot of things to like about this movie. Martin does a great job, as always, with the film. Susan does a good, though not overpowering job as an actress. Actually, Julia Stiles out-acts her. Brendan is adequate, as is Joseph. So, I guess the question is whether you are in the mood to have your emotions pulled. A lot. If so, check this thing out. B"


-Anxiety

Challenges of the Heart, Drama
Susan Sarandon, Brendan Fraser
Martin Scorsese
Negative Cost: 56.472 mill
Total P&A: 54.25 mill
Total Cost: 110.722 mill
Domestic Gross: 19.937 mill
Foreign Gross: 39.388 mill
Total Net Revenue: -25.294 mill
Overall: ****
Martin, Director: *****
Martin, Producer: ****
Susan Sarandon: ****
Brendan Fraser: ***
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: ****
Julia Stiles: *****


While the movie had amazing ancillary markets, considering its initial theatrical failures, still, the movie has to be considered a disappointment. Might get nominated for some awards next year, however.


-Anxiety

The 2004 Academy Award Ceremony has arrived and with it Dragon’s Den Studios step into a new era.

We begin with best Screenplay Adaptation. And the winner is…..

Tom Richardson for Seascape from Hails Studios.


Next up is Best Original Screenplay. Up for nomination are two Dragon’s Den Studios screenplays. And the winner is…..

Syd Cashton for Red Glow from Reckert Pictures.



-Anxiety

And now the supporting cast awards. The first is Best Supporting Actress. And the winner is…..

Leelee Sobieski for Tearoom from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!

Best Supporting Actor is next. The Oscar goes to….

James Earl Jones for Don’t Be Afraid from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!!

So we swept the supporting awards with only one nomination in each category.


-Anxiety

Now the lead awards begin. Best Actress goes to…..


Nicole Kidman for Tearoom from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!!!


The Best Actor award presenters are at the podium. They’ve read the nominees names including Brad Pitt and Matt Damon from DDS films. They are opening the envelope…

Matt Damon for Short of Breath from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!!!!


And now we’ve swept the acting awards. Wow.



-Anxiety

The last two awards are Best Picture and Best Director. We start with Best Director. The award goes to….

Michael Xa for Striving for Perfection from Roehrig Studios.


The last award of the evening is for Best Picture. The award goes to:

Abe Sargent for The Diary from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!

Best picture and all four acting awards! Nice.




-Anxiety

My acceptance speech for the 2004 Academy Award for The Diary:

“First of all, let me just say, wow! The love and support that you have shown all of us at Dragon’s Den Studios has just blown me away. You have show nothing but kindness towards our fledgling enterprise the whole year. For the first movie produced from a small studio to be recognized as the Best Picture last year is just overwhelming. I would like to thank the Director’s Cadre for believing in our vision, and to M Night for taking a risk on our first venture from an unproven company. Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman – you agreed to star, not just in a movie, but to headline the opening stanza from a studio that, I am not ashamed to say, will play many more tunes before our time is done. Once again thank you!”



-Anxiety

“My List of Awards

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun

This is my list of awards. This is not a prediction, but just who I think should win:

Best Picture: “The Diary” Not only was it actually the best movie last year, but it was also a tremendous effort from a small studio.

Best Director: M. Night Shymalan for “The Diary” for pretty much the reasons above. Everybody knew the guy had talent and he proved it in a major way with this film.

Best Actor: Brad Pitt for “The Diary.” This is the last award I give to “The Diary” for the year, but Brad Pitt was absolutely amazing in his role. There was no way any actor could have pulled off the role like he did, and he has solidified his case as Hollywood’s premier actor.

Best Actress: Julia Roberts for “Red Glow.” An amazingly complex character was pulled off to perfection by Ms. Roberts and she deserves the win for her ability to pull off a half crazy, half genius, all brains character.

Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney for “A New Appetite.” James Earl Jones will probably win as a sort of career award, and he did an acting job worthy of a nomination. But there was no individual acting performance worth this award more than Clooney.

Best Supporting Actress: Leelee Sobieski for “Tearoom.” This was such a good movie to have bombed at the box office, that I am disappointed. Maybe Nicole Kidman and Leelee’s nominations for awards will give it some credibility. And, in fact, I honestly believe that Leelee pulled in the best performance of any female for any part this year. She hit all of the notes of this tune to an exact pitch.

Best Adapted Screenplay: “Tearoom” It was not nominated because, quite frankly, it was a dud commercially. But the play was transformed into an amazing film.

Best Original Screenplay: Syd Cashton for Red Glow. This was just one of the best screenplays in the business for a while, and it definitely deserves tremendous recognition.

So, those are the awards that I would hand out. What would you award from this year? E-mail me at [email protected] and let me know.”



-Anxiety

March 2005

88 million dollars have been added from the awards as a result of increased interest in our movies. Especially Tearoom, which did poorly at the box office but won two acting awards.

The Call of Cthulhu needs an additional 11.25 mill for special effects. I approve the amount. The Journal needs an additional 10.2 mill for sets, which I also approve. In The Night needs another 3 mill to stay on schedule. Again, I certify the amounts. In The Night has finished filming.

Wishy-Washy has begun filming.

The following scripts have returned: She Was an Empty Place, Dungeon, The Prisoner, State of Emergency

I take a look at some scripts:

We were unable to improve She Was an Empty Place. Quite unfortunate. The same is true of Dungeon, which has horrendous dialogue. The Prisoner has had it pace polished, but still needs work in some other areas. I send it to Stephen King for a polish. Lastly, State of Emergency, just back from King, is already a four star script and ready for release. Excellent!

I send out The Eye of the Storm for a rewrite of arc, pace, and plot.


-Anxiety

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios

Dragon’s Den Studios today has announced that they have partnered with the very successful Half-Life computer game from Sierra to create a movie based on the game.

“The plot of the game was very original, very fresh. We thought it would make an amazing movie,” said Abe Sargent, founder and CEO of Dragon’s Den Studios. The movie idea will be sent out for a first draft later this week. It has the following logline:

A research doctor finds himself behind enemy lines when an explosion opens a portal to another world.

“We have high hopes for this film,” Sargent continued. “I expect that it could change the way action movies are made.” With such high hopes for the film, the studio is very pleased to have secured the exclusive movie rights for the game.

Dragon’s Den Studios is dedicated to bringing quality movies to the big screen. Half-life will be another in a line of thought provoking and intelligent movies.

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

I put the following restrictions on Half-Life. Is it Sci-Fi or Action Adventure? I choose Action Adventure as the genre. It will be less of a hindrance when it comes to casting people. I need one actor to star, 2 actors and an actress in support, and 5 minor characters. I cast 50 extras for 5 days on the set. We’ll have graphic violence and foul language. I send it off for a first draft.

I greenlight State of Emergency.

We go to DC to film, shooting sound on location, with elaborate set construction.

I authorize 51 mill physical costs, 2 mill pyro, 1.5 mill stunts, and 10 mill state of the art effects.

Since Tom Cruise has finished filming for SEALs 2, I see if he’s interested in another project. He is. For 16 mill and 10% of gross, Tom is my star. With Tom under wraps, I start looking for a director who wants a high budget vehicle with Tom Cruise as the star.

Since he did a good job with the last script, I bring Frank Darabont on board as the director for 330k. Ross Grayson Bell will be my producer for 700k.

Now I need an actress to play across from Cruise. I bring on Halle Berry for 7.1 mill and 5% of gross. I sign William Fichtner (2 mill), Michael Clarke Duncan (500k), and Kate Capshaw (250k) as my supporting cast. The twelve minor roles are evenly split between B List, Up and Comers, and Fresh New Faces.

The total anticipated negative cost is 95.7 mill. I go ahead and authorize 20 mill TV, 12 mill print, and 2.5 mil radio advertising.



-Anxiety

“Review of ‘Eyes of Rage’

Ann Drysden
San Francisco Chronicle, Arts Section

This John Hughes film stars Mel Gibson as a man who goes after the two men who raped and murdered his wife. The film is rated PG13 but it is not for the weak of heart, even then.

How do you accurately portray the grief, anger, depression, and righteousness of a man whose wife has been raped and murdered? Furthermore, how do you take that portrayal and move it into action?

That is Mel Gibson’s task. He hunts down the men, played by Christopher Walken and Guy Pearce, who took out his wife. His journey is one fraught with danger and confusion. Let me tell you, this is one story without the classic Hollywood ending.

And while we are on the subject of the script, the script is marvelous in son many places. It has amazing dialogue, pace, intelligence and genre elements, plus good arc. Having said that, the plot can be predictable (except for the end) and the character development, despite Mel’s acting, is simply poor.

Of course, this is a movie based on action and drama, not on character, but still, it would have been nice to see Mel have more to play with. As such, Mel’s acting job is acceptable, but nothing amazing. Walken, on the other hand, is amazing. And Guy is really convincing as well. Katie Holmes, as the daughter, is significantly less so. However, she doesn’t detract from the film. And John Hughes has turned in another spectacularly directed movie. Could this be another nomination for him as director?

The film is good, you don’t want to miss it. However, despite its PG13 rating, don’t take the kids. B+”


-Anxiety

Eyes of Rage, Drama
Mel Gibson
John Hughes
Negative Cost: 59.852 mill
Total P&A: 60 mill
Total Cost: 119.852 mill
Domestic Gross: 41.326 mill
Foreign Gross: 65.698 mill
Total Net Revenue: 38.638 mill
Overall: ****
John, Director: *****
John, Producer: ****
Mel Gibson: ***
Christopher Walken: *****
Guy Pearce: ****
Katie Holmes: ***

Mel Gibson took home a little over two million. Definitely a good movie, and our first movie in a while to actually make money. The domestic video sales and pay-per-view was through the roof. 51 million total in revenue from those two sources – 72.4 million total from domestic ancillary markets. That was the bread and butter of the flick.


-Anxiety

April 2005
The Call of Cthulhu is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 97%, I slate its release for next month – May.

Wishy-Washy needs an additional million which I easily authorize. It has now finished filming.

The following scripts have returned: Star Gazer, Say You Love Me, Dungeon, The Prisoner, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Crapshoot, Indictment

I take a gander at some scripts:

Star Gazer: Still light years away from being a good script. I send it to Stephen King for a rewrite in all three areas of King’s specialty.

Say You Love Me: After five attempts, this script is still poor. I’ve spent a total of 13.8 mill on the script and I can’t get it any better. I toss it in a drawer, most likely for good.

Dungeon: Sent out for a quick touchup, We finally got the dialogue to be a little better. I send it back out for another touchup. Hopefully we can work the script in little bite size pieces as opposed to the chunks we were trying before.

The Prisoner: The script is lacking power. I send it out for a polish with character development. The script, simply, needs a lot of polishing but is coming along.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight: The new first draft is better than the old version. It has five star plot and four star intelligence. Now to get the other things up. I send it out for a rewrite.

Crapshoot: Almost ready but sent for a professional polish in pace and genre elements.

Indictment: The original version and rewrite are identical in their elements. Marina was unable to better the script. I send it back out, but this time just for a touchup of its pace. To see what happens.


-Anxiety

May 2005

The Journal, The Second Face and The Empty Chair have started filming.

SEALs 2 is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 99% across the board, I have extremely high hopes for the film. I slate it for release in June.

The following scripts are back: Dungeon, The Eye of the Storm, The Prisoner, Crapshoot, Indictment

Dungeon was not improved, leading me to suspect that last month’s improvement was merely a lucky one. I may or may not greenlight Dungeon, I’ll have to think about it.

The Eye of the Storm is looking nice and the polish really worked. But the movie still needs a touchup here and there, so I dispatch it for another script polish.

The Prisoner is stuck in a rut with no improvement recently. To combat that, I’ve sent it out to a professional rewriter to polish the arc and character development.

Indictment did not improve at all from the previous version. I use the same strategy as before – send it to a professional, but this time, for a solid rewrite not just a polish.

I send out the novel A Choice of Words for a first screenplay.


-Anxiety

I greenlight Crapshoot.

Filming in Las Vegas and shooting on location will require complex set construction in this story of love and fury. I budget 41 mill in physical costs and 500k pyro effects.

Several people have called expressing interest in this project. I send this to Christopher Nolan of the Director’s Cadre. He agrees to be my director for a little over 200k. I hire Walter Preston as the producer for the film (500k).

I get the supporting cast done quickly. Natalie Portman (1 mill) and John Cleese (700k). George Clooney is interested so I offer him the part and her agrees to be my star for 12 million and 10% of gross. Now I need a leading lady for the film. I find the pairing of Meg Ryan and George Clooney to be attractive, so I offer her the position. For 5.8 mill and 5% of gross, she is my leading actress.

I greenlight the movie with a negative cost of 75.285 mill. I slate 16 mill TV, 10 mill print, and 2 mill radio for ads. That brings the total projected project cost for domestic advertising and negative costs to 103.285 mill.


-Anxiety

“Review of ‘The Call of Cthulhu’

Susan Dobbs
Entertainment Weekly

Sometimes you come out of a theater and you just have to wonder about the movie. Was it good? Was it bad? You have absolutely no idea, but you feel the need to find out, so you turn around and plop down another $8.25 and get in line to see it again.

“The Call of Cthulhu” is that movie.

There are a few properties in our collective consciousness that are so well known that they have defined us. Vampires and Dracula, for example. King Arthur and Camelot is another. While the Cthulhu Mythos is a lesser known property, you have to wonder at why it has taken so long for a Lovecraft story to see print.

Oh, I know about “Reanimator,” which deviated tremendously from Lovecraft’s script. Yet, until now, “Reanimator” was the closest thing we had to a good Lovecraft adaptation. Maybe his works are just to ethereal, to intellectual, to exotic for the screen.

However, when today’s horror movies include films that are so mind-numbing, maybe we need a little more Lovecraft. Obviously Dragon’s Den Studios thinks so, having taken a huge chance on “The Call of Cthulhu.” No highly intellectual horror property has ever had this much support from a theater. They believe in this project just as surely as Peter Jackson and New Line believed in “The Lord of the Rings.” You have to ask yourself, though, will it carry out even one tenth as well.

Sam Raimi brings us this tale of a New England academic, played by John Cusack, who stumbles across clues of a great evil. Slowly we track the man’s descent into madness as his obsession with this evil grows. He starts to reveal greater and greater madness, not in himself, but in the world around him, until we follow him on a trip across the ocean to the sunken city of R’Yleh and the slumbering evil that lies beneath the lapping waves.

This is not your typical horror movie with slashers garbed in Halloween masks attacking young beautiful women who are protected by some young buck. Instead, this is a psychological thriller that chills you to the very core of your being. It is a very true adaptation of Lovecraft’s story, and carries with it an entire sense of hopelessness.

Jason Lee, James Earl Jones, and Christina Ricci provide a rich background as the supporting cast for the film.

And the film has a great script. The character development and descent into madness sis breathtakingly realistic. Both the arc and development are amazing. The plot, dialogue, pace and intelligence are all excellent, although the genre elements are a bit average. The script simply hums with care.

John Cusack is simply amazing in this role. He has a great script to work with, but if you were thinking that the studios miscast him, you are simply and completely wrong. This is an oscar-worthy performance. James Earl Jones turns in a similarily scintillating performance, and again, you have to wonder if he had just completely revitalized his career. Jason is good, although Christina Ricci is a bit below average.

The real disappointment is Sam Raimi and Walter Hill who do not really convey the project well. Maybe Sam has done too many normal horror movies and I think DDS needs a new director to continue the series, which they have said that they have every intention of continuing to do.

Having the opening credits in Greek and Arabic, instead of English, is a nice touch. This is a great script, good story, amazing acting from John, and it even has some breathtaking and groundbreaking special effects. Just wait until you see Cthulhu on screen. You’ll be absolutely amazed. This is definitely one of the year’s best movies so far. A”


-Anxiety

The Call of Cthulhu, Horror
John Cusack
Sam Raimi
Negative Cost: 105.593 mill
Total P&A: 115 mill
Total Cost: 220.593 mill
Domestic Gross: 225.549 mill
Foreign Gross: 498.575 mill
Total Net Revenue: 462.717 mill
Overall: *****
Sam Raimi: ***
Walter Hill: **
John Cusack: *****
Jason Lee: ****
James Earl Jones: *****
Christina Ricci: **

The number two domestic grossing movie of all time and the top grossing movie internationally of all time!!! Wow. John took home a cool 24.35 mill but we still came out massively ahead. This is definitely a nice shot in the arm for a studio that had several major clunkers.


-Anxiety

“Cthulhu Buries Hobbits

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

If you think that people went crazy over cute little Hobbits, then you have seen nothing. Move over tiny little weaklings because a new power is in town. A slimy, nasty godlike creature who has the power to crush us with its mile-long tentacles. Cute is no longer in. Cthulhu is.

Cthulhu ultimately came in second to last year’s smash hit “The Diary” in all time national gross at the theaters. However, worldwide, people dig the slimy agent of the macabre so much that “The Diary” was knocked off it perch.

So, a small short story that has lain about neglected by the movie industry for 80 years has finally been made into a movie and the rest is history.

What is it about “The Call of Cthulhu” that has brought people into theaters en masse? I think it is the overwhelming sense of cosmic indifference that pervades the film from beginning to end. Beginning with the a mutual dream that many share, John Cusack investigates deeper and deeper finding a carves piece of wood, a story about a pirate, an island, and ultimately, a power go dark in its intent that to be calling it evil or satanic would be insulting its intelligence and malevolence. Freddy and Jason are not horror. They are bad mimes in Central Park.

Cthulhu is horror.

And the movie made millions. A simple story.”


-Anxiety

June 2005

We are back in the black with 93.831 million dollars.

The Second Face, The Empty Chair and The Journal have finished shooting. State of Emergency has begun shooting.

In The Night is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 97%, I slate the Spielberg flick for July. I bump the radio ads by a million and the TV ads by two million.

Crapshoot needs 8.2 mill for additional sets which I authorize.

The following scripts have returned: Star Gazer, Deep Cut, The Eye of the Storm, The Prisoner, Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Tom Cruise wants to take a meeting with me, and I agree. He pitches me a movie he calls, “Shut Up”, I Tell You. It’s a romantic comedy about a couple struggling through marriage counseling. Tome is a great actor but a lousy screenwriter. I would consider Tom, but not with this script, not without being able to send it off for rewrites a-go-go. So, I tell him no thanks.

I go shopping since this is the first time we’ve been financially solvent for a while. But there is nothing out there that tweaks my interest.

I authorize a sequel for The Call of Cthulhu, which we had planned all along. Lovecraft’s stories do not follow a set timeline or even set characters. Therefore I am looking for another story. We are debating here on “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward,” “The Dunwich Horror,” and “Dreams in the With-House.” We decide, after much deliberation, to go with “The Shadow Over Innsmouth.”

The logline for the new film is:

“A visiting grad student trapped in Innsmouth begins to unravel secrets untold for generations.”

It is a horror flick with one lead actor, 2 supporting actors and two supporting actresses, two minor characters and 30 extras for 4 days on the set. This movie comes with violence and a few love scenes. I send it off to be written.

Other scripts: Star Gazer, although improved slightly, still is a poor script, and I throw it back into a drawer. The first draft of Deep Cut is rather good. I send it back out for a rewrite, but it looks nice. The Eye of the Storm looks good, but could be improved slightly. The Prisoner is stuck and I decide to sit on it for a while and see what happens. Lastly, Dragons is looking better than it first did, but of course, it still needs major work. I fire it off to a writer.

I decide, after looking at my scripts, to film The Prisoner, which is stuck and send off The Eye of the Storm for one last polish.



-Anxiety

For the Prisoner I decide to film in Hawaii and shoot sound on location with elaborate set construction. I budget 51 million in physical costs, 2 mill pyro, 2.5 mill stunts, 2 mill robotics and 12 mill state of the art effects.

Several people have mentioned interest in the project. I hire Chris Columbus as my director for 400k and Erica Barret as my producer.

27 million and 11% of gross lands me Brad Pitt again. He’ll play the part of Number Six, the leading man. Now I need a Number Two, the main antagonist. The most popular Number Two in the series was Leo Kern, a large jovial fellow. I decide to follow that lead and cast a fairly likeable but also deadly Pierce Brosnan, not as Number Six, the retiring secret agent, but as his antagonist. I think that’s an interesting play on things. Brosnan is mine for 3 mill and 5% of gross.

I cast Famke Janssen as the likeable Number 42 who Number Six is attracted to and is ultimately the tool of Number Two. Lastly, John Rhys-Davies will play another Number Two after Pierce’s Number Two is sent away near the end of the movie. Davies is secured for a million and Famke for 600k. A List actors for the 5 minor roles.

With major actors and a large budget, I budget for 20 mill TV ads, 12 mill print ads and 2.5 mill radio ads. The total project cost is, well, staggering.


I notice, by the way, that John Cusack is now demanding a lot more money for his films.

-Anxiety

“Review of ‘SEALs 2’

Ann Drysden
San Francisco Chronicle, Arts Section

Can a studio have two major blockbuster movies in back-to-back months? The top grossing movie of all time is last month’s “The Call of Cthulhu” which raked in 1.4 billion dollars gross. Number three all time, by the way, is “SEALs.”

And now the sequel, aptly named “SEALs 2” has arrived. Can in meet the standards of its papa? Dragon’s Den Studios thinks so. The film, directed by Peter Jackson, features Tom Cruise and Vin Diesel as its stars. Michael Clarke Duncan, Famke Janssen and Gillian Anderson round out the supporting cast.

The premise is, again, simple. America’s elite SEALs team fights off terrorism. The studio certainly hopes it can strike gold twice within weeks. A lot of money was spent to do so.

The Script is pretty good. Excellent intelligence and genre elements and really strong character development, plot and pace highlight a screenplay with no weaknesses.

So, what is the movie like? Very, very good. No better than that.

How many sequels out there are better than the original? Terminator 2? Godfather 2?

Peter Jackson is good, Tom Cruise is good, Michael Clarke Duncan and Famke Janssen are good. Vin Diesel, however, is not good. Nevertheless, the movie’s elements come together to make an extraordinary adventure movie. This is definitely one you want to go see. A-“


-Anxiety

SEALs 2, Action Adventure
Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel
Peter Jackson
Negative Cost: 120.319 mill
Total P&A: 112.5 mill
Total Cost: 232.819 mill
Domestic Gross: 335.827 mill
Foreign Gross: 339.297 mill
Total Net Revenue: 361.436 mill
Overall: *****
Peter Jackson: ****
Brad Weaver: ****
Tom Cruise: ****
Vin Diesel: **
Michael Clarke Duncan: ****
Famke Jannsen: ****
Gillian Anderson: ***

Number Two grossing movie domestically, knocking The Call of Cthulhu down a spot. And Number Two internationally as well, where Cthulhu is still number one. Tom Cruise made a cool 45 mill from gross while Vin and Peter each took home 22.6 mill. A nice pair of movies like that can really shoot the studio in the arm financially.


-Anxiety

That awesome: just try visualizing it. I don't have a very good visual imagination (in fact, it's downright awful and saves me more often than not from some of the people around me and their twisted thoughts)- so I just use the image of Cthulhu from the cartoon Freakazoid with a shovel. Anyways, enough ramblings.

SI

Keep it going. Very good writeups.

For reference, here is Lovecraft's description of Cthulhu from "The Call of Cthulhu," first published in 1926 and freely available on the web:

"Everyone listened, and everyone was listening still when It lumbered slobberingly into sight and gropingly squeezed Its gelatinous green immensity through the black doorway into the tainted outside air of that poison city of madness.

Poor Johansen's handwriting almost gave out when he wrote of this. Of the six men who never reached the ship, he thinks two perished of pure fright in that accursed instant. The Thing cannot be described - there is no language for such abysms of shrieking and immemorial lunacy, such eldritch contradictions of all matter, force, and cosmic order. A mountain walked or stumbled. God! What wonder that across the earth a great architect went mad, and poor Wilcox raved with fever in that telepathic instant? The Thing of the idols, the green, sticky spawn of the stars, had awaked to claim his own. The stars were right again, and what an age-old cult had failed to do by design, a band of innocent sailors had done by accident. After vigintillions of years great Cthulhu was loose again, and ravening for delight."


-Anxiety

July 2005

The Empty Chair needs an additional 9 mill for special effects, which I certify. State of Emergency has finished filming.

Wishy-Washy is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 92%, I slate the romantic comedy for a release in August.

The following scripts have returned: The Eye of the Storm, Indictment, Half-Life

There are no projects available for purchase that I wish to buy. We are looking to be in the black for a while now, with 481.67 mill available.

The Eye of the Storm did not improve, but it is good enough to be greenlighted this month. Indictment is looking hella better. I send it out for a touchup.

Half-Life’s rough draft is back and it is quirt rough. However, my writer, Andrea Towlan, gave it five star plot and dialogue. That’s good. Now we need to seriously work on other elements and I send it out for a rewrite in three areas.

I send out the novel Cleopatra’s Ghost for a first draft. It is pulled out of a drawer for Andrea Towlan to work on, since she did a decent job with Half-Life.


-Anxiety

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios

Dragon’s Den Studios announced today a new project, having purchased the exclusive movie rights for the novel, “The Mote in God’s Eye” originally written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

Originally published in the 70’s, “The Mote” is one of the premier science fiction novels. Dealing with a classic science fiction conundrum, Niven and Pournelle portray society more accurately than a sociologist. The novel is both stirring and evocative. Dragon’s Den Studios is proud to be bringing this classic book to the screen.

The logline for the new movie is:

“A young ship captain must spearhead a voyage into a nebula to initiate first contact.”

The script will be sent out later this week. As always, Dragon’s Den Studios continues to look forward to making only the best and most thought provoking movies possible. This new project fits in perfectly with our mission.

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

The Mote in God’s Eye is slated as a science fiction film. Two actors will star with two females and two males supporting. 13 speaking minor roles are written in, and 50 extras will be needed for 3 days.

There will be a little violence and a few love scenes. I send it off to Michael Crichton to see what he can do with the script.

-Anxiety

I greenlight The Eye of the Storm.

We film in Hawaii and shoot sound on location with elaborate set construction.

I budget 51 million physical costs, 1 million robotics, and 5 million state of the art special effects for the film.

John Hughes has asked to do the film. I decide to let him have it as producer and director for 600k.

I would like a fine dramatic actor and actress for my leads. After the success of SEALs 2, Cruise now demands 22 mill and eleven percent of gross while Diesel wants 16 mill. Since Diesel stunk up the place, I don’t think that I’ll be hiring him anytime soon.

I send the script to Cusack, but he doesn’t like the character arc. Neither does Mel Gibson. Leonardo likes it, though. As does Tom Hanks.

I’d rather work with Tom than Leonardo, because he demands 5% less gross. So I offer the spot to Tom Hanks. For 7.15 mill and 5% of gross, Tom Hanks is my leading actor.

The problem with finding a leading actress in Hollywood to highlight a film is that most of the top talent is not oriented towards drama. Of the top 10 actresses in Hollywood by star power, only three can claim to lean towards drama, and two of thgose are numbers 9 and 10 on the list. I try to send out the script to some good candidates. I start with Jodie Foster, but she doesn’t like the arc. The best I can do is Elizabeth Shue, if I want somebody whose best work is drama. And I do. So, for 2.2 mill, she is my leading lady.

And now I need some support. 1 million for Ed Harris and 500k for Julia Stiles sets me up for a well acted film. I cast four A List actors, four B List, and five Up and Comers for the film.

With a total negative cost of 82.758 million, I authorize the film. 15 mill has been set aside for TV ads, 10 mill for print and 1.5 mill for radio.


-Anxiety

“Review of ‘In The Night’

Sybil Hallond
E! Online

This is a movie that some people have been awaiting for some time now. Ever since Steven Spielberg and Dragon’s Den Studios announced that they were doing a project together, you had to wonder how it would turn out. Would two strong wills collide? Or would we get one of the best films in a while?

“In The Night” is a science fiction feature about an airplane crash, where the survivors played by George Clooney, Madeleine Stowe, Julia Stiles, John Lithgow and Jeremy Piven, are aided by a mysterious being.

Trash or treasure? Well, the foundation of the movie is great, with a strong screenplay. Character development, plot and pace are all top notch. And there are no holes in the script. Everything you would expect from a DDS film.

Now, a foundation is hardly everything. Which is fine, because Steven Spielberg turns in a marvelous job as the producer and director of the film. The movie is just so beautiful and touching with all of the humanity that Steven pours into his projects.

George Clooney, on the other hand, is average. None of the other actors are, however. Madeleine and Julia are really good, and John and Jeremy are just perfect in their roles.

So overall, the movie is solid, and its good for the entire family, rated PG13 for the intensity of the airplane crash scene, which was done realistically. Otherwise, kids will love it, and it’s definitely stimulating enough for adults as well. Good film, and a good pairing. A”


-Anxiety

In The Night, Science Fiction
George Clooney, Madeleine Stowe
Steven Spielberg
Negative Cost: 108.839 mill
Total P&A: 103.75 mill
Total Cost: 212.589 mill
Domestic Gross: 227.903 mill
Foreign Gross: 506.249 mill
Total Net Revenue: 370.732 mill
Overall: *****
Steven, Director: *****
Steven, Producer: *****
George Clooney: ***
Madeleine Stowe: ****
Julia Stiles: ****
John Lithgow: *****
Jeremy Piven: *****


Number four all time domestically and the top international movie of all time!!!! That’s three mega-hits in a row for DDS. Spielberg took home 74 mill and Clooney 49.4 mill. We are just raking in money!


-Anxiety

“Rewriting History

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

Take a look at the movie landscape for the past few months and see the swath of destruction left in Hollywood after the wake of three consecutive releases by Dragon’s Den Studios broke massive records. Here are the records as they stand currently:


Most Grossing Domestic Movies of All Time:

The Diary – 396.664 mill
SEALs 2 – 335.827 mill
Tolzar Lives - 250 mill
In The Night - 227.903 mill
The Call of Cthulhu - 225.549 mill


Most Grossing Movies in Foreign Markets of All Time:

In The Night – 506.249 mill
The Call of Cthulhu – 498.575 mill
The Diary – 397.109 mill
SEALs 2 – 339.297 mill
Tolzar Lives – 200 mill


Total Revenue

The Call of Cthulhu – 1.406234 bill
SEALs 2 – 1.399519 bill
In The Night – 1.381119 bill
The Diary – 1.083894 bill
SEALs – 890.201 mill


So, of the Top Five movies in each category, what do you see? Four Dragon’s Den Studio films. But that’s not all. When you see that The Call of Cthulhu, SEALs 2 and In The Night were all released this summer – well, you see that a massive change has brewed. Dragon’s Den Studios has a film being released in August. I wonder what it will be like?”



-Anxiety

August 2005

Crapshoot has started shooting. Heh.

The following scripts have returned: Deep Cut, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Indictment

Deep Cut’s screenplay is coming along nicely. I send it out for another rewrite, hoping that this is the last. Dragons of Autumn Twilight is also improving nicely. I send it out for a polish and a shine.

I purchase the screenplay for “Martyr Highway” a drama about a lonely stretch of road challenging a man’s belief in his fellow man. It’s mine for 3.5 mill. I send it off for a rewrite.

There are some quality novels available, but they are all mystery, and I am just not in a mystery mood this month. I do purchase “Once Is a Lonely Game,” a four star novel, for 5.85 mill, for when I feel like mystery later.


-Anxiety

I greenlight Indictment.

Damn mysteries. We film in LA and shoot sound on location with complex set construction. 41 mill in physical costs and 1.2 stunts are allocated to the film.

I spend some time looking for a director before I decide on Kevin Smith. It will be a new direction for him, and I’m eager to see how he performs. He’s my director for 400k. Justin Ratcher, for 500k, is my producer.

John Cusack is interested in being my star, and I’m interested in giving him another role. For 15 mill and 5% of gross, John is my leading man. 11 mill and 10% of gross nets me Hollywood’s premier leading lady with Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman and John Cusack. Intriguing.

For supporting cast, I have Christian Slater (2 mill), Thora Birch (1.2 mill), Helena Bonham Carter (1 mill) and Leelee Sobieski (700k). A nice selection I’d say. All minor roles are given to B List character actors.

16 mill TV, 10 mill print and 2 mill radio is authorized for advertising. Total project cost with domestic P&A and negative costs is 188.574 mill.


-Anxiety

“Review of ‘Wishy-Washy’

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

“Wishy-Washy” is a cute romantic comedy starring Jim Carrey and Julia Roberts. It doesn’t really sound like a Dragon’s Den Studios film, which has given us heady and weighty fare recently. And now, we get to see more of the side of the studio that put out flicks like “Hamburger,” “Gone Hollywood,” and “Tearoom” from last year.

Spike Jonze was a found member of the Director’s Cadre of Dragon’s Den Studios, but this was his first project in that cadre. He may get overlooked as members like Sam Raimi, M Night Shyamalan, Kevin Smith and John Hughes get the major project and the glory. Now we get a chance to see how he does.

The basic plot of the movie is simple. You have a woman (Julia Roberts) who has two suitors that have proposed to her (Jim Carrey and Christian Slater). She has a friend (Ali Larter) whoi has never been proposed to, and now is so jealous that she tries and sabotages her relationship between the two guys. Only she doesn’t know which is the one Julia will choose. Chevy Chase also is cast as the lovable father who can’t give any advice, but who enjoys listening to everyone’s problems. Everybody trusts the father, evens the boyfriends, so they all come to him and confide in him in a very Catholic manner.

So, it sounds like typical fare, and for the most part, it is. With a solid script, Spike Jonze directs an incredible movie. Julia and Jim both bounce off each other so well, you’d swear they were connected at birth. Chevy Chase turns in an expected great performance, and only Christian and Ali, who are okay, mar an otherwise perfect acting and producing job. The talent for the film is just great.

So, this is a good movie. Watch it for its acting, directing, and producing. The quality of the work is outstanding. Not original, but a lot of fun. B+”


-Anxiety

Wishy-Washy, Romantic Comedy
Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey
Spike Jonze
Negative Cost: 59.677 mill
Total P&A: 65 mill
Total Cost: 124.677 mill
Domestic Gross: 74.636
Foreign Gross: 37.737
Total Net Revenue: -29.022 mill
Overall: *****
Spike Jonze: *****
Susan Anne Therese: *****
Julia Roberts: *****
Jim Carrey: *****
Ali Larter: ***
Christian Slater: ***
Chevy Chase: *****

A very disappointing international showing is disappointing considering its decent domestic attendance. As such, we lost money because the foreign market could not hold its end of the bargain. Even the foreign ancillaries were awful. Only 7.647 mill for foreign TV Sales and Video Sales combined! Now, the domestic was decent, more than enough to turn a profit for us if the international people hadn’t tanked. Ah well, after three blockbuster films, one small loss is hardly disappointing from a big picture standpoint.



-Anxiety

September 2005

The Second Face, The Journal, and The Empty Chair are all ready for release!

Crapshoot needs a mill due to shooting delays. I approve it. It now moves into post production.

The following scripts have returned: A Choice of Words, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Half-Life

Rated PG13, The Second Face is test screening at 92%. I slate it for release next month in October.

The Empty Chair is another political action adventure that I have high hopes for. This movie is also rated PG13 and is screening at 94%. I schedule it for a November release.

Slated for a December release is my major vechicle – The Journal. The sequel to our first blockbuster, my hopes are riding on the back of this movie. Also rated PG13, the film is screening at 97%. Excellent.

A Choice of Words did not come back as the best rough draft ever, although it does have five star genre elements. I send it back out for a rewrite.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is progressing well and may be approved soon. However, before that happens, it needs some seriously massive work on its genre elements. I send it off for one last rewrite.

Lastly, Half-Life is back. The script looks much better than it did before. I send it out for another rewrite, and maybe the last one it will need.

I pull The Bobby-Soxers out of a drawer and brush it off. I decide to send it back out and see what time has done.



-Anxiety

October 2005

State of Emergency is ready for release. Like most of my films, rated PG13, State of Emergency is screening at an amazing 99% across the board! I set it for release in January and I authorize an increase of 2 mill for radio ads.

The Prisoner has begun shooting.

The following scripts have returned: Deep Cut, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, Martyr Highway

Julianne Moore wants to meet with me to discuss a project. I agree to take a meeting with her. She pitches a movie entitled “Potty Trained” about a gardener whose life is thrown into chaos when he inherits a toddler. The script is woefully bad, and I tell thanks but no thanks. I need to get back to work, so Julianne is dismissed by my secretary.

Deep Cut is beginning to look like a real script. I fire it off for a polish, but it’s about done. Martyr Highway is likewise almost done, just needing a tuneup. I ship it off for a rewrite of arc and genre elements in my attempt to get a perfect script.

Steve LeMaux did an outstanding job with the first draft of The Shadow Over Innsmouth. It actually looks like it’s been through four or five permutations. It has five star plot, dialogue and intelligence with four star pace and three star character development. I have never seen a first draft this complete before. I fire it off for a rewrite – probably the only one the screenplay will get.

I purchase the screenplay to “Twice on Sunday” – a drama where a football widow realizes the new season offers many new possibilities. For 3.9 mill this four star script is mine. I send it off for a polish.


-Anxiety

I once had a pictured I'd poured $180 million into (including ads and the cost of prints) that got 99% ratings. The total gross was $28 million. I quit playing for a month after that :-)

Lokugh

Well, we'll just have to see how this one does, eh?

-Anxiety

“Review of ‘The Second Face’

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

This is our last movie from Dragon’s Den Studios before three consecutive political thrillers are released. As such, we get a chance to see a mystery with calm and entertaining overtones, before guns, explosions and death awaits in the next three months.

“The Second Face” is a mystery about police trying to salve the murder of a college grad student. The movie stars Matt Damon and Nicole Kidman as a tagteam of detectives and partners working to solve the crime. Suspects/witnesses include Elijah Wood and Kate Winslet, who both play grad students as well.

The movie’s script is decently done. For example, despite a bit of sexual tension between our two detectives, there is never any kissing, groping, or intimation that they are a couple. It’s a nice play, and I like a film where the guy and girl don’t blatently hook up due to stressful situations. Nevertheless, the plot is still fairly predictable.

Not predictable is the arc, pace, dialogue, development and genre elements – which keep you entertained and watching.

This is another attempt by David Lynch to direct a mystery for Dragon’s Den Studios. Unfortunately, his direction is uneven – sometimes good, sometimes poor. Ultimately he gives us an average picture.

Matt and Nicole are both pretty good in their roles, as is Elijah. Kate is amazingly good. So the acting for the movie is definitely above par. Still, I was ultimately left with a sense of nothing as the movie ended. I wasn’t really happy or sad. The movie seemed like a large amount of “Blah.” Ultimate Grade: B-“


-Anxiety